Loosen the front axle (spindle)

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DoubleDuc
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Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by DoubleDuc »

I can't seem to get the front axle out; I bought a 14mm allen socket and a 350 ft*lb impact wrench (air), they also sold a 700 ft*lb, maybe I should try that? I only loosened the two pinch bolts on the right side near the 14mm insert. I didn't see anything else holding the axle in place. Any suggestions, thanx.
900streetfighter
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by 900streetfighter »

It shouldn't be very tight, maybe its corroded in. WD40, failing that gentle heat from a blowlamp to expand the fork leg. Good luck.
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paso750
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by paso750 »

not sure how good a blowlamp and the paint go together.
You could try to give the axle a tap but I`d do that only as last resort. Personally I wouldn`t use an impact wrench but a torque wrench.
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DoubleDuc
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by DoubleDuc »

I'll try some of the suggested & report back tomorrow; I tried the socket wrench and a 2 foot breaker bar (pipe extension); I got the feeling the wrench was going to break.
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ducinthebay
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by ducinthebay »

I'm going to guess that if its that stuck, someone put some Loctite on the threads of the axle. According to Loctite, heat is the way to loosen it up. Start with a hot air gun before you use a torch. Heat the left fork leg, which is probably where your problem is. On the right hand fork leg, remove the two pinch bolts completely, and drive a screwdriver into the slot to spread the fork leg apart a bit around the axle. (just a little bit) If there is a bit of axle showing on the left leg, give it a few sharp raps with a big hammer to wake things up a bit.

It surely shouldn't be that hard, and I've never had one fight me before. Certainly douse all points on the axle with Liquid Wrench or other similar thread loosening solvents. The axle is steel, but galvanized, so it usually doesn't gall and stick to the aluminum fork legs.

http://us.henkel-adhesives-blog.com/pos ... eadlocker/

Cheers, Phil
Duc in the Bay
1990 750 Sport x2-Rosso Blanko (900ss copy) & Nuovo Nudo (Scrambler project)
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DoubleDuc
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by DoubleDuc »

Thnx for all the input; finally got it out this morning. I put some wd-40 on it, let it sit overnight and tried the pipe extension w/ wrench and it popped.
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by Mc tool »

Yeah , sometimes those sorts of thing go with a helliva crack when they do let go , Im thinking that this is the theory behind giving it a whack with a hammer rather that bursting your poo valve leaning on the wrench till it breaks loose :)
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by higgy »

+1 ON THE WHACKADOODLE THEORY :beer: :beer:
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There's no problem so bad that a little fixing can't make it worse! : )
If it ain't broke keep fixin it till it is
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angelix
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by angelix »

One trick is to give the stuck bolt Axle a "good" tap with a medium sized hammer.

it mean a good Tap, but with reason, do not hit trying to kill the thing!
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paso750
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by paso750 »

while it`s a very good way to get seized bolts loose the question is how well the bearings would take it
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Re: Loosen the front axle (spindle)

Post by Derek »

If the right hand pinch bolts have been loosened there shouldn't be any shock to the bearings.
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